Sensor assembly with cleaning

Abstract

A sensor assembly includes a sensor including a sensor lens, the sensor lens defining an axis; a housing panel including an aperture centered on the axis, the sensor lens being recessed from the aperture along the axis; and an air nozzle positioned between the aperture and the sensor lens along the axis and oriented to blow horizontally across the sensor lens. The aperture and the sensor lens define a gap positioned on an opposite lateral side of the sensor lens from the air nozzle.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A sensor assembly comprising:
 a sensor including a sensor lens, the sensor lens defining an axis; 
 a housing panel including an aperture centered on the axis, the sensor lens being recessed from the aperture along the axis; and 
 an air nozzle positioned between the aperture and the sensor lens along the axis and oriented to blow horizontally across the sensor lens; 
 the aperture and the sensor lens defining a gap positioned on an opposite lateral side of the sensor lens from the air nozzle. 
 
     
     
       2. The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture has a circular shape that is orthogonal to the axis. 
     
     
       3. The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture and the sensor lens further define the gap positioned in an upward direction from the sensor lens. 
     
     
       4. The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture and the sensor lens further define the gap positioned in a downward direction from the sensor lens. 
     
     
       5. The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture and the sensor lens further define the gap extending circumferentially around the axis from the air nozzle to the air nozzle. 
     
     
       6. The sensor assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the gap has a constant axial width between the sensor lens and the aperture circumferentially around the axis from the air nozzle to the air nozzle. 
     
     
       7. The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the axis is oriented horizontally. 
     
     
       8. The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing including the housing panel, wherein the housing includes a chamber, and the gap is positioned to direct airflow from the air nozzle into the chamber. 
     
     
       9. The sensor assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the housing includes a drainage channel positioned inside the chamber and shaped to direct fluid to outside the housing. 
     
     
       10. The sensor assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is positioned in the chamber. 
     
     
       11. The sensor assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is a first sensor, the sensor lens is a first sensor lens, the aperture is a first aperture, the housing panel is a first housing panel, the air nozzle is a first air nozzle, and the gap is a first gap,
 the sensor assembly further comprising a second sensor including a second sensor lens defining a second axis, and a second air nozzle, 
 wherein the housing includes a second housing panel including a second aperture centered on the second axis, 
 the second sensor lens is recessed from the second aperture along the second axis, 
 the second air nozzle is positioned between the second aperture and the second sensor lens along the second axis and oriented to blow horizontally across the second sensor lens, 
 the second aperture and the second sensor lens define a second gap positioned on an opposite lateral side of the second sensor lens from the second air nozzle, and 
 the second gap is positioned to direct airflow from the second air nozzle into the chamber. 
 
     
     
       12. The sensor assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are positioned in the chamber. 
     
     
       13. The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing panel includes a recessed portion, and the aperture is positioned at a most recessed point of the recessed portion. 
     
     
       14. The sensor assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the recessed portion extends from the aperture radially outwardly and axially away from the sensor lens relative to the axis. 
     
     
       15. The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a blower positioned to supply airflow to the air nozzle. 
     
     
       16. The sensor assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a duct positioned to direct airflow from the blower to the air nozzle. 
     
     
       17. The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a liquid nozzle positioned between the aperture and the sensor lens along the axis and oriented to spray across the sensor lens. 
     
     
       18. The sensor assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid nozzle is positioned circumferentially relative to the axis less than 90° from the air nozzle. 
     
     
       19. The sensor assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid nozzle is positioned in the gap. 
     
     
       20. The sensor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the air nozzle includes an outlet having a slot shape elongated parallel to the sensor lens.